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'Reaper' and the tattooed soul
It was a curious episode of Reaper this week because the devil actively interfered with Sam's bounty hunting, and Sock had his own storyline that delved more into the weird mythology of the Reaper-verse world thanks to Gladys, the DMV demon.
Spoilers coming, like a totally expected surprise party.
The Supernatural Struggle:
Demon Sense of the Week - Itchy tattoos that spontaneously appear on his forearm.
Soul of the Week - Curtis Dean Mays, a tattooed felon who killed 10 years ago and is back to off the people who put him away
Vessel of the Week - Taser gun
The devil gives Sam a watch as a show of appreciation, but this turns out to be a scheme because it turns out to be a watch belonging to one of Mays' recent victims. After accidentally tasering a police officer (Mitch Pileggi), Sam gets arrested and questioned. Oddly enough, even though it looks like he should take the rap for killing the victims and he freaks out in the interrogation room, the cop believes him about the devil and the soul.
They team up, and after Sam proves himself a badass by shooting Mays repeatedly and then tasering him into the vessel, there's a twist. I totally didn't see this thing coming. The cop, whose life Sam just saved, turns his gun on Sam, saying that he needs just one more collar -- and an escaped soul sucked into a taser isn't going to fly. So yet again, it looks like Sam is going to take the blame ... until the devil steps in and makes the cop turn the gun on himself.
It turns out that the cop had made a deal with the devil 20 years ago to make five high-profile collars to advance his career. The trick? Planted evidence and a fake suicide note courtesy of the devil makes the cop his own last collar. So, if this little bit of twisted justice is how Satan treats those who deal with him, how is Sam's dad going to fare?
Sam is essentially an innocent, doing the devil's work to pay for his dad's bad judgment. And after Satan gifts him with a "Get out of Hell free" card, it looks like Sam just may have a chance to escape a fiery fate. Fingers crossed that we'll eventually find out.
And that's not the only juicy hell stuff we learn. After Sock becomes obsessed with Gladys, the DMV demon, he practices a little B&E and discovers that she has angel figurines in her house. He's taken with the idea that she's a fallen angel who had the bad judgment to follow that other fallen angel, Lucifer, and yearns to be what she once was.
The funny part is that we don't know if that's actually true yet, although a conversation played out in a dream sequence (once again, I was surprised) implies that it is. Of course, the dream also had Gladys and Sock making out hot and heavy on her couch, so take that as you will. Oh, and it appears that Gladys has the power to send dreams. Intriguing.
On a more mundane level, Andi's love interest, Greg, wants to throw her a surprise party for her birthday and enlists Sam's help, even though Sam knows that's the last thing she'll want. When Greg realizes that she found out, he and Sam have a slap fight in the car. Why didn't they pull each other's hair while they were at it? Pathetic but hilarious. By the end of the episode, Andi breaks up with Greg, but doesn't get together with Sam because she believes friends will ruin what they have by dating.
So, once again, Sam is denied. I tire of this. Let him get lucky in love just once. If not with Andi, someone else.
Many highlights:
- When Sock offers to buy Gladys a smoothie, hot dog or churro. Smooth.
- The devil dining and dashing, leaving Sam with the bill.
- How cool was it that Mays was a twist on the Illustrated Man and could use his tattoos as weapons?
- Gladys to neighborhood kids: "You better run or I'll cook your brains in stew."
- Sock: "Why would a demon be into angel figurines? It's like a cat banging a dog."
- Ben, as Gladys trashes his car with a shovel: "This is my mom's car."
- Devil, eggging Sam on to hit him with a bat: "Go all Barry Bonds on my ass." Afterward: "It was very classy of you not to go for the crotch."
- Ted to Sam: "Take off the apron. I will not have you doing a perp walk while wearing the blue."
- Ben to Sock: "I think you grew into your body really nicely."
- Dream flirtation. Sock: "That's my natural Sock aura. Chicks respond to it." Gladys: "You have a pretty mouth. I'd like to kiss it."
- Devil looking at dead cop: "Such a disappointment ... and the rug is a real Persian."
- Devil: "Oh, you know what I could go for? Bloomin' Onion. You?"
- The devil signing Sam's card with "XOXO."
How do you feel about the devil's deep game now? Want to see more of Gladys? Is Andi overly cautious?
This episode was HILARIOUS!!! I kept laughing out loud throughout! I loved the whole Gladys storyline; you gotta love Gladys & Sock. haha
I was a little worried that the devil was trying to get Sam in trouble, I mean, is that any way to treat your employee of the month? So I was relieved when the devil revealed that he has Sam's best interest in mind; which is actually pretty creepy as well...
this was probably my fave episode of a series of really good ones. i too was surprised by the cop - i thought he was introduced as a possible new character to assist sam on his demon duties - but that would have totally sucked anyways. loved the sock and gladys storyline. i tihnk this is the closest we will get to another buffy-like tv show, and i approve.
Simon | Nov 14, 2007 5:29:44 AM | #nice twists in this episode. I thought they were starting to get redundant, but this one went in some interesting new directions. Still want to see more of what the deal is with Sam's Dad and if he and Andi aren't hooking up then its time Sam get his freak on somewhere else.
steve | Nov 14, 2007 5:59:13 AM | #This episode was the funniest so far. I like the mix of good and bad with the devil. It keeps everyone just on the side of caution, without totally hating him.
I, too, think they need to get on with the Andi storyline. She should realize not being more than friends will ruin their friendship just as fast!
This episode made me miss exactly half of House! It was that good!
pakopako | Nov 14, 2007 6:57:29 AM | #I thought this was the greatest episode so far. The Devil is really scaring me now... with the watch, walking out to leave Sam the bill, and forcing the bad cop's suicide. I'll keep watching.
Sue | Nov 14, 2007 8:04:54 AM | #Still my favorite new show. My favorite moment was Ben's reaction to Sam's cardinal tattoo: "Awww, birdie!".
I want more Gladys, and more for Andi to do besides be conflicted emotionally.
Siansonea | Nov 14, 2007 8:42:06 AM | #Could it be the secret loophole of the contract the father ripped out was that if Sam finds true love, he's released from his obligations and the father loses his soul? The devil probably figures he doesn't believe in love, so Sam isn't likely to collect, and he's actively tried to sabotage Sam and Andi...
The devil's acted out before, to prove a point to Sam, and Sock was definitely tossing off the charm to Gladys previously, so it was nice for the continuity to plumb these facets. It was also interesting that Sock and Ben were the caution with Andi's present, but the devil said nothing, giving Sam enough rope to hang himself.
My main issue has been- whither Sam's powers??
Casper | Nov 14, 2007 12:18:17 PM | #More Gladys, yes!
meggins | Nov 14, 2007 12:31:45 PM | #I thought Reaper stepped it up this week. It was really funny and the dream sequence between Gladys and Sock was hilarious. I liked they had Ben/Sock doing something different this episode besides just helping Sam.
Darius | Nov 14, 2007 1:04:41 PM | #i practically peed my pants laughing so hard with the whole bitch-slap fight in the car between sam and greg (then sock goes "are they making out?"). heh. this show is mostly predictable, but its amusement factor is what keeps me watching.
washington | Nov 14, 2007 3:45:34 PM | #I was in tears from laughing so hard when Sock and Gladys started making out and when Sock said "watch your horns" I lost it.
and When Gladys asked him if he had any good dreams lately....priceless...
But Ben's reaction to Gladys hitting the car makes me right now.
Amber | Nov 14, 2007 11:01:21 PM | #Up until this episode, totally predictable. The Gladys storyline caught me offguard, but in a really GOOD way! I have a feeling Gladys is going to play a bigger part with the gang in the future. There was something there with Sock and Gladys...
rowlfe | Nov 15, 2007 4:11:24 AM | #Hey! I just figured out where I saw the guy playing the devil! This has been bugging me since the 1st episode! Twin Peaks! And he looks remarkably the SAME after over what... 20(?) years!
rowlfe | Nov 15, 2007 4:14:55 AM | #This was definitely my favorite episode since the pilot. I knew Mitch Pileggi would have a bigger role, but I never expected him to have his own deal with the Devil. I was wondering why this cop would believe Sam could really see the Devil.
Yes, I would definitely like to see more of Gladys. She doesn't have to be nice to Ben and Sam, but maybe she really does have a crush on Sock. That dream sequence was hilarious! ;-)
I'm another viewer who would like to see Sam get a girlfriend soon, even if she is not Andi. *** No spoilers *** Maybe Sam will fall in love with a beautiful girl, then he'll find out later that she's one of the escaped souls he is supposed to capture.
Paige | Nov 15, 2007 7:43:55 AM | #
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